Improvement in supporting-props for folding buggy-tops



Patented Nov. 8,A 1870.

UNITED STATES VPATENT OEEIGE.

ALEXANDER DOM, OF MOUNT HEALTHY, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPORTING-PROFS FOR FOLDING BUGGY-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 109,116, dated November 8, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER DOM, of Mount Healthy, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting-Props for Folding Buggy-Tops5 and I hereby declare the following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exact description thereof to enable one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use it, reference being had to the ae companying drawing, making part of this specification.

Nature and Objects 0j' the Invention.

My improvements relate to the supporting devices used to stretch the cloth of a buggytop between the bows.7

Heretofore the top has been stretched either by a toggle-joint prop on each side, extending from the front to the rear bow, or by a togglejoint prop on each side, extending from the front to the last but one bow. In the former case, when the top is folded, the prop is so long that it presents an unsightly appearance, and is in the way of the occupant. In the latter case the last bow is left without support, and the cloth between this bow and the next remains wrinkled when the top is stretched.

My invention is designed to remedy these evils; and consists, in connection with forward props extending from the front to the last bow but one, of an additional toggle-joint prop on each side, and between the outer and inner cloth of the top, which props are operated by crank-handles inside the top.

My invention further consists of a peculiar construction of toggle-joint for the additional or other props, which permits of the joint be ing so narrow as to be easily inserted between the outer and inner cloth, and in a peculiar construction of toggle-joint, which permits the folded cloth to occupy a place between the bars of the joint without being crushed.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buggybody and folding top, the latter embodying my invention, a small portion of the outer cloth being removed to expose to view the togglejoint prop which stretches the cloth between the third and last bow when the top is up. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in perspective, of

my improved construction of `toggle-joint, Fig. 3 being a top view of the same.

General Description.

A is the body of the buggy; B B B" B", the bows which support the cloth of the top, and O O the outside and inside cloth composing the top, which is attached to the bows, as shown. The' bows are hinged at or near the bottom, to permit of their folding together and swinging down to fold the top. Then the top is up it is supported by the toggle-j oint props D D', which connect the third bow with the buggy-seat, and by the toggle-joint props E E', which connect the third bow `with the first. When these toggle-joint props are iu a straight line, as shown, the top is supported in position, and the cloth O O' is stretched between the third and first bows.

In addition to this, I connect a toggle-joint prop on each side between the third and last bows, and when these are straightened or brought into line they serve to stretch the cloth between these bows. As it would be inconvenient to operate these additional props from the outside, I connect the inner ends to a shaft, each marked F in the drawing. These shafts are journaled in the bow B, and are operated in suoli a way as to force the bars of the joint out of the straight line and enable the bows B B' to close together by means of the crank-handles H.

Although I do not desire to confine myself to any specific construction of props, in connection with the crank-handles H and shafts F, I prefer to construct them in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

I and J are the two arms of the props, and K L two connecting links, riveted to the arms in such away as to permit them to swivel. This prop can be folded as conveniently as' the props of ordinary construction, and does not when folded form an acute angle with its two sides between which the cloth is liable to be crushed and damaged. On the contrary, when the prop shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is folded, ample room between the arms is afforded' for the cloth, almost equal in width at all points to the length of the links K L.

For the purpose of stopping the prop in the open position when the arms are in the same straight line, I construct the arms and links with bent lips a, which stop against each other when the prop is in the required position..

This form of stop, it will be seen, is formed by simply bending down an angular extension ofthe metal composing the arin or link itself, and is at once cheap and effectual.

Claims.

l. In connection With a buggy-top constructed and operated substantially as described, the additional toggle-joint props between the bows B B, when they are arranged between the outer and inner cloth of the top, and operated from within by means of the ALEXANDER DOM. l

fitn esses:

FRANK MILLWARD, J. L. WARTMANN. 

